Electrical connector



Julie H. E. GOLDSTINE EIAL 2,474,310

I ELECTRICAL CQNNECTOR Filed March 22, 1944 Fig.6.

INVENTOIZS.

HALLAN E. GOLDSTINE. OSWIN F. VOIGT.

ATTORN EY.

Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Hallan E. Goldstlnc and Oswin F. Voigt, Port J eflerson Station, N. Y., assignors to Radio Corporation of America, a-corporatlon of Delaware Application Mm 22, 1944, Serial No. 527,596

\ 3 Claims. (01. 173-269) This invention relates to a new and useful electrical connector which is particularly adapted for making connections to high frequency apparatus.

= An object of this invention is to provide a simplified and improved electrical connector.

. Another object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector having low contact resistance and a contact point which will not varyappreciably.

A feature of this invention is the arrangement of a contact clip in which a body portion surrounds the pinto which the clip connects. A spring tension then surrounds the body portion and a connection lead is riveted to the end of the body portion of the clip.

This invention is particularly adapted for mak--' for a connection clip are as follows:

1. The tube clip should have low contact resistance and the contact point should not vary appreciably during operation.

2. The inductance of the tube clip should be lbw and the clip should make contact very near the glass seal to keep the lead inductance down.

3. The clip should be capable of operating at elevated temperatures without losing its holding qualities and should have good thermal conductivity so as to carry heat away from the tube seal.

4. The clip should be capable of being readily applied to the tube without tools.

5. The clip should be capable of operating satisfactorily over the range of pin diameters that may be encountered in a given type of tube.

6. The clip should not become loose under normal service or reasonable vibration and should be rugged for handling.

'7. The clip should be simple in mechanical construction and easily manufactured and fabricated.

The device of this invention has the above requirements and has definite advantages over other types of tube clips when used for high frequency operation.

This invention will best. be understood by referring to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a contact clip of this invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the contact clip,

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is an elevation shown partly in section of another embodiment of this invention, and

Fig. 6 is'a plan view of Fig. 5.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, of the drawing, the tube contact clip of this invention comprises three major parts. namely, a body portion, a spring portion and a flexible connection strip. The body portion I is approximately rectangular in configuration and at the central portion thereof is drilled with an aperture 2 which provides clearance for the tube pin III. The forward end of body I is rounded over, as shown at 3, and the top portion just beyond the roundedover portion is a concaved portion slotted with found to be a suitable material. is secured to the lower portion of member I by a circular slot 4 which is cut through to meet the aperture 2. The rear portion of body I is drilled with two holes 5 to receive rivets 8. A spring member 6 is made of material having good spring properties and good conductivity and will retain its properties at elevated temperatures of 300 degrees to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Beryllium copper or spring steel silver plated has been The spring 5 rivets 8 and is bent around the curved front end thereof and continues on to a position substantially three-quarters around the curved portion I. A lead I is secured to the rear portion of body I and is riveted thereto by means of rivets 8. The lead I should be very flexible and possess good bending qualities and electrical and thermal conductivity. Beryllium copper or spring steel silver plated has also been found suitable for this lead. It is preferable that the lead' I and spring contact member 6 be soldered with a high melting point solder. The tube clip and leads are preferably silver or copper plated for better 3 over pin III by pushing it through aperture 2. The length of pin is such that the spring member 6 will be sprung out at the curved portion 4 and will tightly grip a substantial area of the tube pin and force the underside of pin It in good electrical contact within aperture 2.

The embodiment shown by Figs. 5 and 6 comprises a circular body portion ll of metal which is slotted at 12 in a position just beyond the center as shown in Fig. 6. The central portion of member II is drilled at l3 for clearance of a tube pin similar to in which is mentioned above. The

lower end of member H is counter-bored at II.

The sides of member II are cut away at l5 to form a clearance in which a spring member l6 of beryllium copper is located and, as seen in Fig. 6, the straight portion of spring I6 extends within the slot I2 to a distance just beyond the aperture l3, the arrangement being such that this portion of the spring will make contact to the tube pin 10. Just beyond the cut-away portion there is shown a shoulder portion I'I against which a tubular cover member I8 is positioned. A flexible contact spring I9 is provided for making electrical connection and is joined to the lower portion of member H by being riveted or spun over at 20. By joining spring l9 to member II the cover It is retained.

In the operation of this device, the body portion II is forced over the end of tube pin in until the end opposite the strap l9 lies near the surface of the glass 22, thus forming a good positive connection to pin l0.

While we have indicated and described a system of our invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that our invention is by no means limited to the particular devices shown and described, but that many modifications may be made without departing from the scope of our invention.

What we claim is:

1. An electrical connection device for making connections to the pins of a vacuum tube, comprising a body portion having a circular aperture arranged to extend along its length for the passage of one of said pins therethrough, said body portion having located on one of its sides a concaved portion which extends into th zone of said circular aperture, 8. spring tension device having an aperture therein which is Dositioned to register with the circular aperture in the body portion, said spring being secured to one end and fitted over one side of the apertured end and the concave side portion of said body portion, and a connection lead secured to said spring tension device and said body portion.

2. An electrical connection device for making an electrical connection to the pins of a vacuum,

said spring being secured to said body portion at an end opposite the rounded portion and extending along one side, over the rounded end and a part of the concaved side portion, and a connection lead secured to said spring and body portion.

3. An electrical connection device for high frequency use comprising a solid metallic rectangular body having a rounded end portion and a circular aperture extending inwardly therefrom, a concaved portion cut in one side of said body portion and arranged to bisect said circular aperture, a spring tension member having a circular aperture arranged to register with the circular aperture in the body portion, said spring tension member. being secured to an end opposite said rounded end of the body portion, and fitted over the side and the periphery of rounded end of said body portion with its free and extending inwardly to the bisected portion of said cavity portion, and a flexible electrical connection strap secured to said body portion and said spring by thesame securing means.

HALLAN E. GOLDSTINE. OSWIN F. VOIGT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,342,819 Lake June 8, 1920 1,387,252 Fredricks Aug. 9, 1921 1,533,613 Rubin Apr. 14, 1925 1,965,964 Miner July 10, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 662,736 Germany July 20, 1938 239,315 Great Britain Sept. 10, 1925 853,683 France Dec. 7, 1939 

